Development Manager

Want a job that literally takes you places and helps empower resilient youth in El Salvador?

Comunidad Óscar A. Romero (COAR) Peace Mission is seeking a bilingual development professional with strong communication skills who is passionate about empowering resilient children to lead healthy and happy lives. COAR has operated in El Salvador since 1980, with a U.S.-based office in Cleveland supporting our mission.

As part of a small and collaborative team, you will work closely with the Executive Director on fundraising, donor relations, and communications. This role also includes opportunities to represent COAR as a guest speaker at Catholic parishes across North America and to make two annual trips to El Salvador to visit our in-country team and the youth we serve.

This is a full-time hybrid role based in the Cleveland area, with 3–4 days per week in our office located just off of I-90 in Wickliffe and 1–2 days per week working remotely. The position involves regular travel (primarily during the summer months for parish speaking engagements) and two annual trips to El Salvador, typically in February and November. The Development Manager role is designed for an early- to mid-career fundraiser seeking broad, hands-on experience across development functions. This position reports to the Executive Director and includes opportunities for growth in major donor stewardship and strategic fundraising.

About COAR Peace Mission

Founded during the Salvadoran Civil War as a refuge for children who lost or became separated from their families in the conflict, COAR has grown into a comprehensive children’s village and educational center. We provide safe housing, round-the-clock support, holistic healthcare, and a high-quality education for youth who have escaped situations of abuse, neglect, and trafficking. Our school serves over 1,000 students and is recognized as one of the top educational institutions in the region.

Required Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree
  • Bilingual English/Spanish
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, communications, international development, or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications

• • Fundraising experience
  • Strong public speaking skills
  • Familiarity with Salvadoran or Central American culture
  • Master’s degree in a relevant field

Duties Include

• • Representing COAR as a primary spokesperson during summer parish speaking engagements nationwide, building relationships, and communicating our mission’s impact.
  • Managing donor stewardship, including responding to inquiries, providing personalized follow-up, and maintaining high-quality donor experiences.
  • Cultivating partnerships with parishes and diocesan offices and coordinating all logistics for invited speaking engagements.
  • Planning and executing donor outreach campaigns, including segmentation and tracking effectiveness.
  • Leading planning and logistics for fundraising events, ensuring smooth operations and strong donor engagement.
  • Collaborating with our in-country team in El Salvador to ensure accurate program information and alignment on donor communications.
  • Supporting major donor strategy, including preparing materials, coordinating meetings, and participating in select solicitations.
  • Overseeing accurate and timely gift processing and acknowledgments, with administrative support from our bookkeeper, who enters all gifts.

Benefits Include

• • Comprehensive health insurance through Diocese of Cleveland CARE Health Plans with employer contributions, plus dental coverage.
  • Life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
  • Pension plan participation through the Diocese of Cleveland, fully funded by the employer; employees become vested after five years.
  • Paid Vacation: Three weeks annually; after five years of service, this increases by an additional week.
  • Paid Holidays: Enjoy a generous 15 paid holidays annually, including standard federal holidays and religious holidays, plus unique extras such as Good Friday, Easter Monday, Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and the day after Thanksgiving.
  • Paid Sick Time: 40 hours annually, with rollover up to a 240-hour maximum.
  • Hybrid Work Environment: 3–4 days per week in-office, 1–2 days remote.
  • Travel Opportunities: Domestic travel for parish speaking engagements and two annual trips to El Salvador.

Salary Range

$50,000–$54,000 (up to $2,000 in relocation expenses may be provided for candidates outside of the Northeast Ohio region)

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to

jobs@coarpeacemission.org

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with an anticipated start date in late January or early February 2026.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫:

• Salary: $50K–$54K + relocation assistance
• Comprehensive health, dental, life insurance, and pension plan
• Generous PTO and hybrid flexibility
• A mission-driven role with real impact

Bilingual English/Spanish